Mere Use Of Abusive Or Defamatory Language Not Sufficient To Constitute Offence U/S 294 IPC: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court has held that the mere use of abusive, filthy, or defamatory language is not sufficient to constitute an offence under Section 294 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) unless the act is obscene and causes annoyance to others in or near a public place. The Court reiterated that annoyance and obscenity are both essential ingredients of the offence and must be...

MP High Court Directs Factory Owner To Plant 25 Saplings For Failing To Cure Defects In Plea Despite Grant Of Sufficient Time

The Madhya Pradesh High Court directed the proprietor of a factory to plant 25 saplings of native plants/trees within the factory premises as a condition for restoring its writ petition, which was earlier dismissed for non-compliance with a peremptory order. The division bench of Justice Vivek Rusia and Justice Binod Kumar Dwivedi noted that despite sufficient time being granted to the...

Rajasthan High Court Shocked At Death Penalty In Case With 'No Trace Of Evidence'; Acquits Man Accused Of Killing Siblings, Raping Sister

While answering the death reference in negative, Rajasthan High Court acquitted a man convicted for murder of two siblings and raping the sister.In doing so, a division bench of Justice Vinit Kumar Mathur and Justice Anuroop Singhi expressed its "astonishment" over trial court's decision of awarding death penalty to the appellant in a case wherein they struggled to find any trace of...

[JJ Act] Document Of Higher Preference For Determining Victim's Age Not 'Gospel Truth' When Contents Are Shaky: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has ruled that the document of higher preference for determining a victim's age under the Juvenile Justice Act is not to be taken as a “gospel truth” when its contents are shaky and stand falsified. “There is no absolute rule that the document, having higher preference, for age determination of child under Juvenile Justice Act has to be taken as a gospel truth, even...

Courts Aren't For Adjourning Cases: MP High Court Fines Municipality ₹25K Over Failure To Seek Substituted Service Despite Grant Of Time

The Madhya Pradesh High Court imposed a cost of ₹ 25,000 on Gwalior Municipal Corporation for failing to file an application for substituted mode service to the respondent through publication despite time granted a month ago.The court in its August 21 order had observed that the notice issued by the corporation to M/s Gleg Engineers Pvt Ltd in their review petition was received back without...

Apprising Interested Party Of Company's Ongoing Mismanagement Or Disputes Not Defamation: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has observed that any communication made in the context of existing legal disputes and for protection of a company's financial interests falls within the protective ambit of the defamation law. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said that to allow criminal prosecution under defamation to proceed in case where the dispute is evidently civil and commercial in nature, would be...

Contempt Petition Filed In Allahabad High Court Against Change In Darshan Timings Of Sri Banke Bihari Temple At Vrindavan

A contempt petition has been filed in the Allahabad High Court against the change in darshan timings of Sri Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan.Advocate Gaurav Goswami, petitioner, approached the High Court against the decision dated 11.09.2025 of the High Powered Committee- changing the timings. It has been pleaded that the committee had overreached its mandate, as set by the Court. Supreme...

Bail Not To Be Granted On Parity If Order Relied On Granted Relief On Wrong Facts: Allahabad High Court

The Allahabad High Court has held that parity must not be followed while granting bail when the order relied on records wrong facts.Justice Sanjay Kumar Singh held that “a Judge is not bound to grant bail to an accused on the ground of parity if the order granting bail contain wrong facts. If any illegality is brought to the notice of the Court, the same shall not be permitted...

Mere Presence Of Alcohol In Accident Victim's Blood Not Enough To Exclude Liability, Insurer Must Show Evidence Of Impairment: Kerala High Court

In a recent judgment, the Kerala High Court has held that evidence of the mere presence of alcohol in the victim's blood is not enough for an insurer to exclude liability in accidental deaths when the exclusion clause specifically excludes deaths caused under the influence of alcohol. It further observed that the insurer must prove that the accident occurred while the victim was under...

MP High Court Orders Release Of Gratuity To Widow Of Bank Employee Terminated For Misappropriating Money, Says No Forfeiture Sans Conviction

The Madhya Pradesh High Court, on Monday (October 6), ordered the release of gratuity to the widow of a bank employee who was terminated for misappropriating ₹1 lakh from the branch cash chest, noting that since there was no criminal prosecution, the bank cannot forfeit gratuity. Per the facts of the case, the employee had filed a departmental appeal post-termination, which was...

Continuous Promotional Advantage To Reserved Category Without Reassessing Seniority Violates Right To Equality: Punjab & Haryana High Court

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has said that the principle of equality enshrined in Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution serves as the cornerstone of fair and just governance.Court stated that in the context of service promotions, this principle mandates that no employee—whether from the reserved or general category—should be placed at a permanent advantage or disadvantage once...

P&H High Court Seeks Union, Bar Council's Response On Plea Alleging That Jindal University Misrepresented 3-Yr LLB Course As Honours Degree

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought responses from the Union Government and the Bar Council of India and other authorities on a petition alleging that O.P. Jindal Global University allegedly misrepresented its 3-year LLB program as an “Honours” degree.In a petition filed by Nipun Gupta who graduated from the O.P Jindal University submitted that the University at all times...